- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Sighting in Rifle: Barrel warming question
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:06 pm
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:06 pm
I know there are a lot of great Gun Guys on this board. And I'm definitely not one of them. So I apologize if this is an elementary question.
Took my son to sight in his Christmas present at 25 yards. It was way off out of the box. 5" low and 2" right at 25 yards. So it took about 10 shots to "walk" it into zero. Then we shot 7 more times for a total of 17 shots.
I have two questions:
1) My first adjustment (moving 80 clicks Up and 32 clicks Left) had the following results: The Up worked perfectly. It was about one bullet width high at 25 yards. But the Left didn't move at all. So I moved it 12 more clicks Left. Didn't move at all. So I moved it 12 more clicks Left. And then suddenly it was 1.5" Left. So I had to walk it back Right.
Why? It was like the Left adjustments didn't register. And then all of a sudden they came in all at once.
2) My groupings started out tight. Most bullet holes touching each other at 25 yards. But the last 5 or 6 shots got wobbly. The last three were an inch apart. And the barrel was hot to the touch at this point. Will barrel heating affect accuracy this much after only 15 or so shots? I didn't think that was a thing until barrels got really really hot. Like 100 rounds or more. Just my ignorance on the subject
Last three shots.
Thanks for your time.
And, for your trouble:
Took my son to sight in his Christmas present at 25 yards. It was way off out of the box. 5" low and 2" right at 25 yards. So it took about 10 shots to "walk" it into zero. Then we shot 7 more times for a total of 17 shots.
I have two questions:
1) My first adjustment (moving 80 clicks Up and 32 clicks Left) had the following results: The Up worked perfectly. It was about one bullet width high at 25 yards. But the Left didn't move at all. So I moved it 12 more clicks Left. Didn't move at all. So I moved it 12 more clicks Left. And then suddenly it was 1.5" Left. So I had to walk it back Right.
Why? It was like the Left adjustments didn't register. And then all of a sudden they came in all at once.
2) My groupings started out tight. Most bullet holes touching each other at 25 yards. But the last 5 or 6 shots got wobbly. The last three were an inch apart. And the barrel was hot to the touch at this point. Will barrel heating affect accuracy this much after only 15 or so shots? I didn't think that was a thing until barrels got really really hot. Like 100 rounds or more. Just my ignorance on the subject
Last three shots.
Thanks for your time.
And, for your trouble:
10
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:09 pm to No Colors
nice tits
I forgot the question
I forgot the question
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:11 pm to cgrand
quote:
nice tits
Dang Papa Smurf. He's a 12 yo boy!
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:19 pm to No Colors
I would say that’s trigger pull. That’s a pretty tight group. Unless you had the gun a vise, I’d just chalk it up to a little pull. The barrel heat will cause your shots to walk a little but at 25 yards, you shouldn’t be seeing much from the heat.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:27 pm to No Colors
I noticed this happened when sighting in my .35 Whelen. After about the 6th or 7th shot, the barrel was really warm and then placement was questionable.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:47 pm to No Colors
Barrel will warm warm up to the point of deflection after just a few shots if a standard hunting contour on the barrel.
When sighting in your rifle:
You need a good rest first and foremost
1. Shoot 1st shot
2. Put crosshairs on initial target and then adjust crosshairs to impact
3. Shoot again
4. Adjust again if necessary
5. Shoot at distance and make adjustments.
When sighting in your rifle:
You need a good rest first and foremost
1. Shoot 1st shot
2. Put crosshairs on initial target and then adjust crosshairs to impact
3. Shoot again
4. Adjust again if necessary
5. Shoot at distance and make adjustments.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:49 pm to No Colors
I used to run into the same issue with crosshairs not moving when making adjustments.I would adjust and adjust and eventually the bullet impact would change ,usually way too far,I think recoil would jar it loose.Gunsmith told me it was common,he told me to tap the turret gently with a rubber handle screwdriver after making adjustments.
I always found movement of crosshairs didn’t exactly correspond to clicks either.
This was with hunting scopes-Leupold,Burris,Bushnell.I think expensive target scopes don’t have these issues.
Barrels heating up definitely mess up groups.I usually shoot about 3 shots and wait for barrel to cool.Stainless barrels are the worst about heating up and slow to cool.In the summer I’ll have pot of cold water and a washcloth to cool the barrel.Gunsmith told me it wouldn’t hurt to do that.
I always found movement of crosshairs didn’t exactly correspond to clicks either.
This was with hunting scopes-Leupold,Burris,Bushnell.I think expensive target scopes don’t have these issues.
Barrels heating up definitely mess up groups.I usually shoot about 3 shots and wait for barrel to cool.Stainless barrels are the worst about heating up and slow to cool.In the summer I’ll have pot of cold water and a washcloth to cool the barrel.Gunsmith told me it wouldn’t hurt to do that.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 1:50 pm to No Colors
With the profile of that barrel if it is to hot to touch it will definitely throw rounds.
You should shoot 3 rounds adjust off the group. Let the barrel rest a bit shoot 3 more adjust again and repeat until you are happy.
Also you need to shoot the gun at 100 yds at least. 25 yds could be to close and you could be pretty far off at 100 yds. I had a friend sight in a rifle (.243 win) at 25yds. When he went to shoot at 100yds it was shooting 9 inches high. He thought the gun was defective I told no you were probably to close at 25yds
You should shoot 3 rounds adjust off the group. Let the barrel rest a bit shoot 3 more adjust again and repeat until you are happy.
Also you need to shoot the gun at 100 yds at least. 25 yds could be to close and you could be pretty far off at 100 yds. I had a friend sight in a rifle (.243 win) at 25yds. When he went to shoot at 100yds it was shooting 9 inches high. He thought the gun was defective I told no you were probably to close at 25yds
Posted on 1/10/21 at 2:29 pm to No Colors
Usually if I'm doing load development and doing a lot of shooting, I carry a small cooler with wet towels and ice packs. Wrap cold towels around barrel between groups.
Gently tap the scope dials after adjustment like others said. Also check ALL the scope screws with a torque screwdriver to ensure nothing is loose.
Otherwise, make sure the gun is stable and rested when shooting. Grip, trigger pull, etc all need to be right to ensure you're not pulling shots.
Gently tap the scope dials after adjustment like others said. Also check ALL the scope screws with a torque screwdriver to ensure nothing is loose.
Otherwise, make sure the gun is stable and rested when shooting. Grip, trigger pull, etc all need to be right to ensure you're not pulling shots.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 2:33 pm to LSUA 75
quote:
I used to run into the same issue with crosshairs not moving when making adjustments.I would adjust and adjust and eventually the bullet impact would change ,usually way too far,I think recoil would jar it loose.Gunsmith told me it was common,he told me to tap the turret gently with a rubber handle screwdriver after making adjustments. I always found movement of crosshairs didn’t exactly correspond to clicks either. This was with hunting scopes-Leupold,Burris,Bushnell.I think expensive target scopes don’t have these issues. Barrels heating up definitely mess up groups.I usually shoot about 3 shots and wait for barrel to cool.Stainless barrels are the worst about heating up and slow to cool.In the summer I’ll have pot of cold water and a washcloth to cool the barrel.Gunsmith told me it wouldn’t hurt to do that.
Yep, my thoughts also. After scope adjustments now, I tap the turrets gently a few times with my finger and a couple of times at the front and rear. Just enough to cause a little vibration. It seems to help getting an immediate change.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 3:20 pm to Duckhammer_77
quote:
I carry a small cooler with wet towels and ice packs. Wrap cold towels around barrel between groups.
I do this as well.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 3:44 pm to No Colors
No Colors,
Congrats on being involved w/ your son.
Be sure and share some of the good experiences y'all have w/ us. What kind of gun did Santa bring him?
Good tip that I didn't' learn until I'd been shooting >30 years.
A few other tips for your son when he's shooting at the range.
-Avoid excessive recoil and noise by using a "sissy pad" (small sand bag between butt of gun and his shoulder) and both ear plugs and muffs.
-Once his shots start to open up, it's time to quit as he's getting tired or recoil/muzzle blast sensitive.
I've experienced situations when the crosshairs didn't seem to move as much after a scope adjustment as they should have. I think it sometimes takes more than one shot for the scope "innards" to settle in.
Personally, I no longer worry about the barrel heating up while sighting in. I go on 2-3 prairie dog hunting trips every spring/summer. Shooting 100-150 rounds today, the barrels will get hot. I don't think a barrel will move around much when hot unless there's a high point at the inside of the stock that makes contact w/ the barrel. If there's a high spot on the stock causing the barrel to wander when hot, I want to find that out at the range. Be sure your barrel is free floated. What worries me more is the first shot/cold bore shot having a different point of impact than follow up shots. My son's 223 does this. The first shot is 1.5" low and 1" to the left. After that, it' fine, printing 1/2" groups at 100 yards.
Congrats on being involved w/ your son.
Be sure and share some of the good experiences y'all have w/ us. What kind of gun did Santa bring him? quote:
After scope adjustments now, I tap the turrets gently a few times with my finger and a couple of times at the front and rear.
Good tip that I didn't' learn until I'd been shooting >30 years.
A few other tips for your son when he's shooting at the range.
-Avoid excessive recoil and noise by using a "sissy pad" (small sand bag between butt of gun and his shoulder) and both ear plugs and muffs.
-Once his shots start to open up, it's time to quit as he's getting tired or recoil/muzzle blast sensitive.
I've experienced situations when the crosshairs didn't seem to move as much after a scope adjustment as they should have. I think it sometimes takes more than one shot for the scope "innards" to settle in.
Personally, I no longer worry about the barrel heating up while sighting in. I go on 2-3 prairie dog hunting trips every spring/summer. Shooting 100-150 rounds today, the barrels will get hot. I don't think a barrel will move around much when hot unless there's a high point at the inside of the stock that makes contact w/ the barrel. If there's a high spot on the stock causing the barrel to wander when hot, I want to find that out at the range. Be sure your barrel is free floated. What worries me more is the first shot/cold bore shot having a different point of impact than follow up shots. My son's 223 does this. The first shot is 1.5" low and 1" to the left. After that, it' fine, printing 1/2" groups at 100 yards.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 3:52 pm to LSUA 75
quote:
tap the turret gently
My own version of that is to overshoot by a couple clicks, then click it back.
Not sure how I came to start doing that. No idea if it works and I have no clue how scope innards work but I have encountered the "scope didn't move" thing before. I've convinced myself that it actually does move every time but often the margin of shooter error is greater than the correction i was wanting to make. I've never clicked a turret on a scope while using a boresighter and didn't have the reticle move.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 4:16 pm to No Colors
Possible dumb follow up question.
Let’s say I site in a rifle with ammo that I plan to hunt with.
Then we do some plinking with a cheaper ammo(different grain). Can this affect the site when I return to the hunting round?
Let’s say I site in a rifle with ammo that I plan to hunt with.
Then we do some plinking with a cheaper ammo(different grain). Can this affect the site when I return to the hunting round?
Posted on 1/10/21 at 4:25 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
My own version of that is to overshoot by a couple clicks, then click it back
+1
Posted on 1/10/21 at 4:26 pm to Cash
quote:
Then we do some plinking with a cheaper ammo(different grain). Can this affect the site when I return to the hunting round?
No. Different ammo just has di points of impact. As long as you zero with the hunting ammo and leave the scope alone you're good.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 4:26 pm to Cash
quote:
Then we do some plinking with a cheaper ammo(different grain). Can this affect the site when I return to the hunting round?
As long as you didn't change the sights and clean the barrel good, you should be fine.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 4:27 pm to Cash
quote:
Let’s say I site in a rifle with ammo that I plan to hunt with.
Then we do some plinking with a cheaper ammo(different grain). Can this affect the site when I return to the hunting round?
No
Posted on 1/10/21 at 4:36 pm to auggie
quote:
As long as you didn't change the sights and clean the barrel good,
I'm pretty firmly in the "never clean hunting rifle barrels" camp. I thing jewging metal stuff down the barrel is more of a liability for most people.
Posted on 1/10/21 at 4:41 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
I'm pretty firmly in the "never clean hunting rifle barrels" camp. I thing jewging metal stuff down the barrel is more of a liability for most people.
I'm mostly with you on that, because I never shoot cheap ammo, and the most I usually ever do is run a bore snake down the barrel now and then, but the guy said he had been plinking with some cheap ammo, if I did that, I think I would clean it. JMO.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News